Chapter 5: CH 4

Translated by Yonnee

“N-No matter what the Lady says…”

The frightened servant took a step back, but then—fwish—Reina jutted her hand out.

“Give me that letter.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You’re going to the Karr residence, aren’t you? Right?”

“Even so, that… This letter was written by the Marquis.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever, just first, gimme! I’m in a hurry!”

Unable to win against her, the servant dazedly surrendered the letter.

But as soon as the letter was handed over,

Rip— Riiiip—

“H-Huuh…??”

Did the ruffian youngest of the family really mean to tear the letter apart like that?

And as if that wasn’t enough,

“M-Milady! D-Don’t eat that!”

She shoved those scraps of paper right into her mouth and chewed it all.

“That letter contains the Lady’s proposal of marriage!”

“Yeah. I know. That’s exactly why.”

“Goodness gracious! Once Her Excellency the Marquis hears about this, I’ll get a salary cut!”

“It’ll be alright. I’ll take care of everything.”

* * *

“You’re really doing all sorts of things, aren’t you.”

Marquis Chantra, Reina’s grandmother, revealed her frustrations as she pressed a finger on her own forehead.

Contrary to what Reina had boasted before, she just stood there with her shoulders hunched. She wanted to disappear right then.

“Of all the things you could do to shake up this household, you chose to rip up your clothes in front of everyone? Not only that, but you also did that with an official correspondence of the head of this family…! You, really!”

“But I told you that I don’t want that engagement…”

The old woman’s eyes widened for a moment, perhaps because she didn’t expect that a reply would actually come back. Not missing this chance, Reina quickly added.

“Even so, I still have a say in this matter. Since it’s my engagement…”

At the clear statement that followed, the old woman’s face became slightly confused.

“Reina, you…”

She was about to say something, but she soon changed her mind and returned to the subject at hand.

“Right. That’s why I noted what you said you wanted out of your engagement—and that’s ‘a man with a good personality.”

“……”

This happened during a night when the bright moon had been obscured by clouds, and only flimsy rays of light trickled in. That was the time Reina’s previous fiancé had finally broken their engagement due to her terrible bullying.

“What on earth kind of man do you want.”

Her grandmother asked, and then Reina answered.

“…A man with a good personality.”

Was it regrettable that she had never once been in a relationship in her previous life? Even before Reina became aware of her past identity as Han Jaehee, she had already been advocating for ‘free love’, or a relationship that’s not bound by the custom of marriage or anything contractual.

And that ‘personality’ was bait so that she could pursue that free love she wanted.

‘Personality… Why did I say that?’

As she belatedly recalled the mistake, Reina pursed her lips. At this, the old woman raised one eyebrow and raised one corner of her lips obliquely.

“You can’t claim that you don’t remember.”

‘Yes… I remember. I did say that…’

But she couldn’t just admit it. The moment she’d get engaged to Lehman…

‘Uuugh… I’ll be off to the next world right away.’

Shuddering unconsciously, Reina shook her head quickly and schooled her features.

“Grandmother. Still, you misunderstood me.”

“Misunderstood?”

“Yes. The ‘personality’ I’m talking about isn’t what you think, Grandmother.”

No, well, actually she got it right. But just so I could live longer, it had to be turned into something else.

“Then?”

With the sincerest of expressions, the granddaughter answered as soon as the brief question was asked.

“Ability! Wealth! A man’s personality is entirely his abilities and his wealth! Or maybe even his face?”

If a person’s character or personality was based on their abilities and wealth, then all right people were good people. That ain’t true, but at least for now, this was what she insisted.

“I want to be engaged to a man who is very capable and who won’t let me starve to death because his family’s loaded with money that could feed even generations to come, even if all he does is eat and play all his life!”

Reina thought,

‘Yep. Rather than dying, it’s a hundred times better to be a snob who has such high standards, right?’

So, she shouted proudly.

“I like ‘em young and rich!”

[ t/n: ‘young and rich’ was said in English ]

“…What?”

“You know what young and rich is, right, Grandma? If a man isn’t young and rich, then they’re not worth my time. This is my life’s motto.”

Perhaps the wording of it was a bit too frivolous. Her grandmother faltered for a moment, pressing down on the throbbing veins on her temples.

“Young and ri… Huuuu. Fine. Alright. Let me get this straight one more time. A young man who’s around your age, who wouldn’t compromise House Chantra’s honor, who still doesn’t have a fiancée right now, has great capabilities and wealth, and has a family that’s absolutely loaded even if all he does is eat and play all his life.”

With the full on attack that went dadada that came at her, Reina’s eyes shook.

‘No, I mean… Saying it like that would make anyone think it’s a child’s petty whining… Do you really have to hit me where it hurts like that…?’

“One of the few candidates who fit the bill was someone you personally kicked by your own foot, and if a young man from a family that lacked a little honor and financial means would be brought up, you’d say that you don’t like the second-best thing—so then, tell me.”

At last, the granddaughter closed her mouth because of the grandmother’s solid attacks. However, the marquis’ scathing remarks were not over yet.

“Whether it’s one of the nine major families or any other noble family, don’t you realize that it’s a huge flaw not to have a betrothed until your age?”

“……”

“If there really is such a candidate, then just as you want, I will rescind the engagement proposal to House Karr. Tell me, is there one?”

Reina had to say someone’s name right here. Otherwise, she would inevitably be engaged to Lehman Karr.

“……”

But what could she say.

Although they weren’t close, she had been meeting the other children of the nine major families regularly every year. Yet she couldn’t bring up any names.

“No one, right?”